Chinese Police Arrest 18 Members of Banned ‘Female Jesus Cult’

Chinese media reported on Thursday that police have detained 18 alleged members of the banned Church of Almighty God, also known as “Eastern Lightning” or “Quannengshen,” whose signature belief is that Jesus has been reborn as a Chinese woman, with the objective of unleashing the Apocalypse.

The BBC notes that Chinese authorities have staged frequent crackdowns on the cult. The current round of detentions also included the confiscation of computers and cult recruiting materials. The crackdown was evidently precipitated by an investigation of the group’s use of intense pressure tactics to extort money from members.